Egyptian giants Al Ahly are reportedly preparing a significant squad rebuild, with two players from Esperance Sportive de Tunis emerging as key transfer targets following a disappointing campaign.
According to reports in Egyptian media, including Al-Ahram newspaper, the club’s leadership has begun identifying reinforcements, focusing particularly on standout performers from Esperance. The move comes amid growing pressure to reshape the team after a season marked by missed opportunities and underwhelming results.
Senior figures within Al Ahly, including vice-president Yassin Mansour and board member Sayed Abdel-Hafiz, are said to be closely monitoring players capable of strengthening the squad across multiple positions.
At the centre of their reported interest are Esperance defender Mohamed Amine Tougai and forward Florian Danho. Both players impressed during recent encounters between the two clubs, with Tougai notably scoring against Al Ahly in matches held in Rades and Cairo, while Danho’s attacking displays caused persistent problems for the Egyptian side’s defence.
Rebuild driven by disappointing season
Al Ahly’s push for reinforcements follows a campaign in which the club failed to secure major honours. The team did not reclaim the Egyptian Cup or the CAF Champions League, and also suffered early exits from both the Club World Cup and the Egyptian Capital Cup.
These setbacks have prompted the club’s hierarchy to consider sweeping changes to the playing squad. Reports suggest that a number of current players could depart as part of a broader restructuring strategy aimed at restoring competitiveness both domestically and on the continent.
Head coach Jesse Torup is understood to have reached an agreement with the club’s management on several technical decisions, including a potential overhaul of the attacking line. Current forwards Mohamed Sherif, Marwan Osman and Ailstein Camoes are reportedly facing uncertain futures due to declining form and fitness levels.
In response, the coach has already experimented with alternative attacking solutions, deploying Ashraf Ben Sharqi as a central striker and utilising Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet in multiple offensive roles.
Defensive concerns add urgency
While attacking reinforcements are under consideration, defensive frailties have also emerged as a key concern. The reported interest in Tougai reflects a pressing need to strengthen the centre-back position.
This need has been compounded by the possible departure of Ahmed Ramadan Beckham, who is said to be keen on returning to Ceramica Cleopatra, as well as fitness concerns surrounding Amr El-Gazzar. Additionally, Hadi Riad has struggled to make the desired impact, with recent matches highlighting vulnerabilities in the back line.
Technical reports prepared by the coaching staff underline the scale of the issue, noting that the team conceded four goals across their last two matches against Esperance—a statistic that has intensified calls for defensive reinforcements.
Strategic reset underway
As Al Ahly evaluate their options ahead of the next season, the pursuit of Tougai and Danho signals a broader intent to refresh the squad with proven performers. The club’s leadership appears determined to address both attacking inefficiency and defensive instability in a bid to return to winning ways.
